The Armada Cruise
May 31st to June 1st

 

From the Brentwood Bay Squadron:

"Figment Too" - Ron & Janice, also onboard were new members Ken & Janis

"DAWNA 2" - Len & Dawna

"Senga" - Peter & Margaret, Len & Lynn

"Spindrift" - Ken & Penny, new members

 

From the Saanich Peninsula Squadron:

"Snoopy" Anne, Webmaster. Anne is the explorer of the group and made it to Race Rocks.

"Traa Dy Liooar" Kathy McDougal and Anne Marie

“Captain Morgan  111” Jiri & Ewa.

John - Squadron member from the Saanich Peninsula Squadron joined us for the evening. He is a regular Armada Cruiser but couldn't make it by boat. 

 

From the Oak Bay Squadron:

"Suite 201" Keith & Son Pon.

 

 

The Armada Cruise departed Tsehum Harbour at 12:00 on May 31st, 2008.  The weather was good with light winds in Haro Strait.

Ron & Janice Sailed from West Bay in Victoria to join up with us at Zero Rock, then cruise with us to Victoria. Everyone charted their course on paper charts.

 

For most this was a first time event to the Inner Harbour in Victoria. It was an opportunity to cruise with experienced boaters to a new destination and return home safely.

 

Going through Baynes Channel & Mayor Channel off Oak Bay with their noticeable currents can be as interesting as going past the South Cardinal Buoy at Mouat Reef. The current tends to set toward the reef.. Once past the South Cardinal Buoy we went through Enterprise Channel between Trial Island and McNeill Bay. Two weeks previous, a large vessel had grounded on Mouat reef..

 

The wind freshened up a little in Juan De Fuca, but the highlight of the day was arriving at Brotchie Ledge Light at the same time as the Star Princess.  The Star Princess is the largest, most luxurious and most expensive cruise ship plying the B.C. waters (430 million dollars).  It was an intimidating sight.

Who was going to enter the harbour first? 

The Star Princess or the Armada group. It was each individual skipper’s decision as to when and how to proceed.

 

We all tied up together at the Inner harbour in front of the Empress Hotel. It was time to meet new friends and reacquaint with old friends of our first Armada. We had appetizers, swapped sea stories and all too soon headed for the rack at 22:00 hrs, it got cold that night. An early morning saw us depart at 10:00 hrs.  Anne, on Snoopy, was the first out and reported the wind was still up with a 3 to 4 foot chop and snotty. Jiri & Ewa were next to leave. We motored on towards Trial Island.

 

At McNeill Bay Ken and I waited for Kathy and Anne Marie, in "Traa Dy Liooar". Kathy is somewhat slower under power, but we travel as a group. Bringing up the rear was Peter on “Senga. We went through Enterprise Channel with the flood current, staying together until we passed Discovery & Chatham Islands.

Kathy raised her sails once in Haro Strait and sailed back to Tsehum Harbour.   Peter headed toward Canoe Cove with Ken & I bringing up the rear. It was a great first of the year cruise and we look forward to our next event, the "Pig War".    

 

Dawna and I, Ron & Janice, Ken & Penny are all new members to Brentwood Bay Squadron. We look forward to seeing more Brentwood Bay members during the summer.

 

Len Burton.

Squadron Executive Officer.

Squadron MAREP Officer.

Squadron Port Captain.  

Click here for full slide show of the Cruise